Red Sox Line Up Vs Rays 3/27

Red Sox take on the Rays at JetBlue Park at 1:35 today. The Red Sox will send Josh Beckett to the mound. This will be Beckett's fifth start of the spring. He has a 1-0 record with this spring with a 1.29 ERA. He is have a good spring after coming off the rough September. Beckett is hoping to have a similar day to what stater Jon Lester had yesterday.

Lester was in regular season form pitching a 7.0 inning shut out with two hits and 10 strike outs. Lester was named the opening day starter against the Tigers.

Line Ups vs Rays


Aviles SS
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Sweeney RF

Pitching


Beckett SP
Morales
Melancon
Atchison

Iglesias Sent Down, Aviles Opening Day Starter

The debate over who will be the opening day short stop is finally over. The Red Sox optioned Jose Iglesias to AAA Pawtucket earlier this morning. With Iglesias being sent down that leave Mike Aviles as your stater.

Iglesias who is an amazing defensive short stop but struggles to hit the ball. This spring he suffered from a groin injury which held him back several games and he ended the spring hitting right at the Mendoza Line a whopping .200.

"(Inglesias) had a real emotional meeting with Ben and I," manager Bobby Valentine said. "At this time, we decided it was best for him and this organization that he get some real regular at-bats and works a littler more on his consistency of his swing and play."

Images From Spring Training JetBlue Park

  

 

 
 
 

 

 
 

 

St. Patrick's Day Game in Sarasota

 

 

 

 

PBS Special on Fenway Park's 100th Year

If you are a baseball fan you know that this is the 100th year of Fenway Park. With such a historic event you know you are going to have books, tv specials, and all the media hype that comes with it. Well tonight is one of those media specials. Tonight PBS will be airing a one hour special on the park. This will probably be one of many specials prior to the end of the season. As many has saw that the Red Sox released a trailer for the special earlier in the week.

Follow Up Statements From Bobby Jenks

As a follow up to the Bobby Jenks arrest posted earlier in the week. Jenks was arrested for driving under the influence of muscle relaxers in Fort Myers, FL Friday morning. Jenks released the following statement earlier today:

"I am embarrassed by the situation and apologize to my teammates and to the Red Sox organization for any distractions I may have caused. I still need to let the leagal process run its course and until it does, I will not be able to make any further comment," Jenks said.

This statement was expect from the reliever as a public relations move.

Line Ups for Split Squad 3/24

The Red Sox will be taking two different fields today in two split squad games. One half of the team will be at JetBlue Park taking on the Phillies. While the other half is in Jupiter taking on the Marlins. The Red Sox look to be testing out two pitchers for a spot in the rotation in Felix Doubront and Alfredo Aceves.

Doubront is out of options and if he does not make the team he will have to clear waivers for the Red Sox to put him in Pawtucket. Doubront has had a good spring and overall is a great prospect. According to SoxProspects.com he is the 13th best player in the system and many believe he is ready for the big league.

Aceves on the other hand is competing for a role as a starter. Aceves was the go to guy in 2011. He was the long reliever and a spot starter. Aceves made 55 appearances with four starts and a record of 10-2 with a 2.61 ERA. Aceves is already stretched to be a starter he pitched 114 innings last year alone. The only question is if he becomes a starter who will play the roll as long reliever when he is not there to do it.

Line Ups at Marlins


Iglesias SS
Ciriaco SS
Ross LF
Ortiz DH
Lavarnway C
Sweeney RF
Repko CF
Anderson 1B
Spears 3B

Pitching:

Doubront SP

Mathis

Thomas

Mortensen

Line Ups vs Phillies

Ellsbury CF

Pedroia 2B

Youkilis 3B

Gonzalez 1B

McDonald RF

Saltalamacchia

Aviles SS

Punto DH

Kroeger LF

Pitching:

Aceves SP

Morales

Bailey

Padillia

Bowden

Jenks Arrested for DUI

Bobby Jenks has been nothing but disappointment since coming to the Red Sox. This morning but the final stamp on the disappointment when he was arrested around 3:43 am for driving under the influence as well as hit and run  property damage. Jenks was charged with four misdemeanor charges.

Jenks told the Lee County police that he was driving wild because "I took to many muscle relaxers."

In the passed Jenks has had issues with alcohol in the past and was demoted inside the Angels organization. Though Jenks has been quoted in 2010 saying.

"I no longer drink," he said. "No alcohol at all. Not even a beer here or there. Just things like that, really focusing on the future. It was a personal choice. It hadn't gotten too much. I just found myself not wanting to [drink] anymore. I just wanted to be more of a family man. Then this last year, I came to Christ and that was a big influence on my life."

Jenks was leaving Babes nightclub when the incident occurred. Jenks was not under the influence of alcohol as he blew a 0.00 but was of course high on his medication.

Jenks pitched in 19 games in 2011 after which he went on the disabled list. He also starts this season on the 60-day DL after having back surgery on December 31st.

The Red Sox will deal with this situation and are aware of it.

Line Ups vs Cardinals

The Red Sox take on the defending champions today in Fort Myers. The Red Sox have won four straight and hopes to continue the streak against the 4-5-1 Cardinals.

Line Up vs Cardinals 3/15

Youkilis 3B
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzales 1B
Ortiz DH
Ross RF
Lavarnway C
McDonald LF
Punto SS

Pitching
Aceves SP
Bard
Albers
Thomas

A Little Update from the Road

After two days and 900 miles of driving I made it to Fort Myers, FL last night. Since yesterday was the Red Sox off day I took a swim and literally sleep the day away. But the Red Sox are back at it today taking on the Cardinals. I will not be at the game as I'm attending the Pirates vs. Twins game but the next two days I will be watching our Sox.

Friday's night game will be against the Twins in another match up for the Mayor's Cup and Saturday will be a split squad game against the Orioles. I opted to save a little cash so I'm headed to Sarasota on Saturday for the road version of the game. I've been around my share of O's fans to know that the park will be full of Sox fans.

 I know it's not Sox related but I will be making a video from today's game and hope to have it posted by tonight for all to see on YouTube as well as here on Phil's Thoughts.

Also if the line ups become available prior to me leaving for the ballpark they will be posted if not I'll do a game recap for you guys since I'm going to be listening to it while at the Twins game.

First match up against Yankees

The first match up of the spring with the Evil Empire is finally here. The Red Sox go into Tampa today to take on the Yankees. This will be the first of many match ups between Bobby Valentine and Joe Girardi. Girardi is already making comments about the game.  The line ups for this game have been out of a couple of days but I've been busy planning for my trip to Fort Myers so here they are. Also keep your eye on the blog for updates from Fort Myers coming later this week.

Lineups vs Yankees 3/13

Aviles SS

Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury DH
Salty C
Middlebrooks 3B
Anderson 1B
Linares CF
Kroeger RF
Hassan LF

Pitching: 

Doubront SP

Bowden

Padilla 

Tazawa

Duckworth

Inman

Line Ups for First Game of Mayor's Cup

After two impressive wins yesterday the Red Sox take on a Major League team for the first game of the Grape Fruit League. The Sox play the Twins for the first game of the Mayor's Cup. The Mayor's Cup is given to the team who wins the series between the two teams who call Fort Myers, Florida home. The Red Sox have taken home the Cup in past years and hopes to do it again this season.

Line ups against Twins 3/4/12

Pedroia 2b
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Gonzalez 1B
Aviles SS
Saltalamacchia C
McDonald LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Linares DH

Pitchers
Beckett SP
Miller
Melancon
Thomas
Pena
Atchison

Spring has Sprung

After two weeks of practice work outs it's finally time for the Red Sox to actually play a game, well sorta. The Spring Training schedule begins tomorrow with a twin bill against two colleges from Boston. The Red Sox will play an early game against Northeastern University and a late match  up against Boston College. 

"That part is fun," said Dustin Pedroia. "You're building up to get ready for the season. It's been a while since we played games, and that's why you put in all the hard work, is to play well during the games. It's going to be fun."

There will be one surprise about tomorrows games and that is who will be playing first base against BC. David Ortiz will be playing first base in that game. Bobby Valentine must be trying to see what Oritz has left in the tank to play him against a college team at first. 

Lineups for 3/3/12

Northeastern at 2:35 p.m.

Iglesias SS

Ellsbury CF

Pedroia 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Saltalamacchia C

McDonald DH

Sweeney RF

Ross LF

Middlebrooks 3B

Pitchers

Lester

Germano

Bowden

Albers

Boston College at 7:05 p.m.

Aviles SS

Lin CF

Youkilis 3B

Ortiz 1B

Punto 2B

Lavarnway C

Kooeger RF

Hassan DH

Repko LF

Pitchers

Doubront

Tazawa

Mathis

Spoone

Jason Varitek Humbly Retires

Photo by: Jim Davis/Boston.com

Not a lot of players are blessed to play 15 years in the major league. It's even more rare that a player spends 15 years with the same organization, Jason Varitek has. Tonight at JetBlue Ballpark at is his office, home plate, Varitek calls it quits.

"After months of deliberating what to do, I've decided that it's best for me and my family that I retire, that I retire a Red Sock," Varitek said. "My decision to retire wasn't one that I took lightly in any sense of the word, nor did I want to do it more than once. This has probably been the most difficult decision I have made in my career. But the opportunity to start and finish my major league career in one place is why I'm standing here today."

Varitek became a member of the Red Sox organization in 1997; when he came to over in a trade from the Seattle Mariners. Varitek was part of a two player trade which brought him as well as Derek Lowe for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb. [Some say one of the most one sided trades in baseball history]

It was an emotional day for the Captain  but he was extremely thankful for everyone who helped him along the way. He thanked everyone from his little league coaches, to his major league managers. He was extremely thankful when it come to thanking his teammates.

"It's what I'm going to miss most," Varitek said, with a long pause. "The hardest thing to do is walk away from your teammates, and what they meant to you. Thank You."

Varitek had an amazing career with pretty impressive numbers for a catcher. Varitek hit a career .256 with 193 home runs and 757 RBI. He is a three time All-Star also won both the silver slugger award and Gold Glove in the 2005 season. He ranks ninth all time games played in a Red Sox uniform and first as a catcher with 1,546.  He is the only player in Major League history to catch four no-hitters in a career. He caught no-hitters for Hideo Nomo (2001), Derek Lowe (2002), Clay Buchholz (2007), and Jon Lester (2008). On top of all these honors Varitek become the Captain of the Red Sox in 2005 after leading the team to the first World Series in 87 years and he did it again in 2007. He is also the only player to play in the Little League World Series, College World Series, MLB World Series, Olympics and World Baseball Classic.

When looks for the words to say to describe how much Varitek will be missed by Red Sox Nation, I came across this comment by Jared Carrabis( Gov. of Red Sox Nation, MA and SoxSpace) so thought I would share.

"With his closting statements, Jason Varitek walks away from the podium at his retirement press conference, taking with him a piece of my childhood. You embodied everything that it meant to play for the Boston Red Sox, and we were privileged to have been able to watch your entire career right here in our backyard. Thanks for everything, Captain. You will be missed." Carrabis said.

And what better way to close then to finish with the closing statement from the Captain himself.

"As I walk away from this game," Varitek said in his closing statement. "I can look at the man in the mirror and be proud that I gave everything I had to this organization. And once again, I just want to say thank you."

If you missed the retirement announcement here it is in it's entirety: